Baccano and Death
I've finally started watching Baccano and it's been good so far. There's plenty of blood, humour and interesting characters so far. Now on the last 3 episodes. On another note, I took another Major Arcana quiz and the result was Death. Hmm...
My friends are starting college today. It feels a little strange, I think.
I wrote this for the alternate ending competition tpbod held. I rather like it but I don't think it works so well as a final chapter. More like a drabble of a final chapter.
Title: Their Last Stand
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Vexen, Lexaeus, Zexion, Axel, Marluxia, Larxene, Organization XIII
Rating/Warnings: None
Summary: This was how they decided to go.
By then, they were completely exhausted. The strain from traversing darkness had finally pushed their bodies beyond their limits. It was unspoken, but all of them knew they would not survive another portal; they would either collapse into each other in a listless pile of limbs or simply vanish.
They burst out onto the rooftop, almost crashing dizzily into the stone walls that suddenly appeared in front of them. As the sun set over the horizon, casting brilliant rays of light over the towers Notre Dame, they sank onto the floor, wincing at the cold and with reluctance - with relief, they surrendered to sleep.
When the new day came, the Nobodies woke, stretching their tired bodies before freezing.
Six hooded faces gazed down on them, the atmosphere tense and otherwise unreadable. Behind them, a portal appeared, a foreboding omen and as the figure stepped out, the newcomers parted, like royal guards making way for their beloved King.
“Come,” he said.
A part of them begged them to give in, to at last end their futile attempts at escaping their fates and submit to the judgment sure to come but something stirred inside of them. They had come too far, gone through too much to surrender so easily now. All this time they had been chasing a hopeless future, what would all that mean if they turned their backs on it now?
Inside their empty chests, a dying flame flickered and expanded, now blazing at its brightest right before the time came to burn out.
They exchanged wordless glances amongst themselves. Power sizzled in the air and as one, they raised their weapons against the Superior - their fellow kin, the Organization, their non-selves, their fate. As one, they stood their ground, Nobodies so changed by experiences and memories that they could no longer be sure what to think of themselves.
In the face of absolute judgment, the Renegades stood proud, without regret.
“Very well,” he said, without emotion.
---
Some said they saw lightning strike Notre Dame, reaching from the Heavens to the stone towers. Others praying in the church claimed the ground shook violently beneath their feet, shaking the glass windows. Others still had their own versions, impossible sightings of things that should not be. There were many different stories told, but regardless of which were true, the guards were sent up to check the rooftops.
Even then, they could not begin explain it.
Dry, withered vines littered the stone gargoyles, hanging lifelessly over their wings and shoulders. Blocks of ice were melting into water droplets that trailed down the walls, coating the stones in a layer of moisture. The floor was a mess of puddles and dead greenery.
They were still staring at the scene when the shadows came to life, baring sharp teeth in malice. Alarmed, the guards immediately unsheathed their swords, preparing for battle even as they contemplated the effectiveness of blades against phantoms.
As the shadows grew and grew, the guards stepped back, hesitating. Fear teased their breaths, quickening their pulses and sending cold shivers down their spines in the face of this unknown threat. They stepped back, shaking.
Rearing with a low growl, the darkness lunged, heading straight for them and the guards, paralyzed as they were, could not move to defend or evade. They stood helplessly as the gigantic jaws came closer and closer when suddenly -
The shadows stilled, only inches away from the group of men…and retreated.
When the last tendril had disappeared into the darkened corners, the guards let out a breath they did not realize they were holding. Having finished checking the area for any other suspicious movements, they hurried down the stairs, closing the door behind them.
And on the rooftops, there was nothing left.
My friends are starting college today. It feels a little strange, I think.
I wrote this for the alternate ending competition tpbod held. I rather like it but I don't think it works so well as a final chapter. More like a drabble of a final chapter.
Title: Their Last Stand
Fandom: Kingdom Hearts
Characters: Vexen, Lexaeus, Zexion, Axel, Marluxia, Larxene, Organization XIII
Rating/Warnings: None
Summary: This was how they decided to go.
By then, they were completely exhausted. The strain from traversing darkness had finally pushed their bodies beyond their limits. It was unspoken, but all of them knew they would not survive another portal; they would either collapse into each other in a listless pile of limbs or simply vanish.
They burst out onto the rooftop, almost crashing dizzily into the stone walls that suddenly appeared in front of them. As the sun set over the horizon, casting brilliant rays of light over the towers Notre Dame, they sank onto the floor, wincing at the cold and with reluctance - with relief, they surrendered to sleep.
When the new day came, the Nobodies woke, stretching their tired bodies before freezing.
Six hooded faces gazed down on them, the atmosphere tense and otherwise unreadable. Behind them, a portal appeared, a foreboding omen and as the figure stepped out, the newcomers parted, like royal guards making way for their beloved King.
“Come,” he said.
A part of them begged them to give in, to at last end their futile attempts at escaping their fates and submit to the judgment sure to come but something stirred inside of them. They had come too far, gone through too much to surrender so easily now. All this time they had been chasing a hopeless future, what would all that mean if they turned their backs on it now?
Inside their empty chests, a dying flame flickered and expanded, now blazing at its brightest right before the time came to burn out.
They exchanged wordless glances amongst themselves. Power sizzled in the air and as one, they raised their weapons against the Superior - their fellow kin, the Organization, their non-selves, their fate. As one, they stood their ground, Nobodies so changed by experiences and memories that they could no longer be sure what to think of themselves.
In the face of absolute judgment, the Renegades stood proud, without regret.
“Very well,” he said, without emotion.
---
Some said they saw lightning strike Notre Dame, reaching from the Heavens to the stone towers. Others praying in the church claimed the ground shook violently beneath their feet, shaking the glass windows. Others still had their own versions, impossible sightings of things that should not be. There were many different stories told, but regardless of which were true, the guards were sent up to check the rooftops.
Even then, they could not begin explain it.
Dry, withered vines littered the stone gargoyles, hanging lifelessly over their wings and shoulders. Blocks of ice were melting into water droplets that trailed down the walls, coating the stones in a layer of moisture. The floor was a mess of puddles and dead greenery.
They were still staring at the scene when the shadows came to life, baring sharp teeth in malice. Alarmed, the guards immediately unsheathed their swords, preparing for battle even as they contemplated the effectiveness of blades against phantoms.
As the shadows grew and grew, the guards stepped back, hesitating. Fear teased their breaths, quickening their pulses and sending cold shivers down their spines in the face of this unknown threat. They stepped back, shaking.
Rearing with a low growl, the darkness lunged, heading straight for them and the guards, paralyzed as they were, could not move to defend or evade. They stood helplessly as the gigantic jaws came closer and closer when suddenly -
The shadows stilled, only inches away from the group of men…and retreated.
When the last tendril had disappeared into the darkened corners, the guards let out a breath they did not realize they were holding. Having finished checking the area for any other suspicious movements, they hurried down the stairs, closing the door behind them.
And on the rooftops, there was nothing left.